Port Scanning Demystified for Bug Bounty Success

In the world of bug bounty hunting, port scanning is one of the most critical techniques for identifying potential vulnerabilities in a target system. While port scanning may sound simple, the process is nuanced, involving much more than just running a quick scan and moving on. By understanding the methodology behind port scanning and how to effectively interpret results, you can uncover vulnerabilities that are often overlooked.

This blog will break down the ins and outs of port scanning, explore tools and techniques, discuss ethical considerations, and guide you on how to use this skill to achieve bug bounty success.

What is Port Scanning?

Port scanning is the process of systematically checking a target’s network to discover open ports and the services running on them. Ports act as gateways between the internal system and the internet, allowing communication with the outside world. Each port corresponds to a specific service or protocol, and by scanning them, you can discover what services are accessible and identify any potential weaknesses.

There are two main categories of ports:

• Well-known ports (0–1023): These ports are typically associated with common services like HTTP (80), HTTPS (443), FTP (21), and SSH (22).